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No Bootable Devices Error

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Name: Dakk
Date: January 25, 2006 at 07:15:04 Pacific
OS: XP Pro
CPU/Ram: 512
Comment:

Bootable Devices Detected'. However the hard drive is detected in the BIOS, and theres only 1 partition which Windows says is active.

Now here's the weird part, Windows will boot if the Windows Installation CD is in the CD-Rom drive. I can take out the CD and operate windows fine after boot up. Here's what I've tried so far:

1) Recovery Console - Bootcfg /rebuild, fixboot, fixmbr
2) Windows Repair Installation

I want to try and avoid reformatting if at all possible. Any ideas or suggestions??




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Response Number 1
Name: Chuck 2
Date: January 25, 2006 at 07:30:44 Pacific
Reply:

Maybe something is missing or corrupted ??
Try System File Checker:
Open the Command Prompt, then type:

sfc /scannow

note space between the c and /
Have XP CD in your drive.
Information about SFC

How to use the scannow sfc tool in Windows XP
http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html#


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Response Number 2
Name: Dakk
Date: January 25, 2006 at 07:40:39 Pacific
Reply:

Wouldnt the repair installation fix the corrupted/missing files.


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Response Number 3
Name: Chuck 2
Date: January 25, 2006 at 07:45:41 Pacific
Reply:

OH OK. How's the boot order in BIOS set ??
Maybe the Response here
http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/147094.html
may work.


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Response Number 4
Name: Chuck 2
Date: January 25, 2006 at 07:54:05 Pacific
Reply:

Then again, maybe you have a file sitting on a bad sector on the harddrive ??
How to Perform Disk Error Checking in Windows XP
Perhaps the easier way to go is "To run Chkdsk
from My Computer or Windows Explorer"
Check mark both items under "Check Disk Options",
on your way into starting Error-Checking Tool.


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Response Number 5
Name: Dakk
Date: January 25, 2006 at 07:59:27 Pacific
Reply:

The Boot order is set to CD-Rom, Floppy, Hard Drive.

CHKDSK ran perfectly fine. I did the thorough check too.


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Response Number 6
Name: Chuck 2
Date: January 25, 2006 at 08:24:37 Pacific
Reply:

Running out of ideas.
Maybe the text in Boot.ini file gives a clue ?
Right click My Computer,
then Properties,
then Advanced tab,
click Settings button under Startup and Recovery,
click Edit button,
then Copy and Paste text here.


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Response Number 7
Name: Chuck 2
Date: January 25, 2006 at 08:43:03 Pacific
Reply:

Try looking here for "no bootable device"
http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?s=dhs&cat=all&c=us&l=en&cs=19&k=no+bootable+device&x=11&y=8


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Response Number 8
Name: Dakk
Date: January 25, 2006 at 11:13:11 Pacific
Reply:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn


Havent found anything on the dell page either :/


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Response Number 9
Name: Chuck 2
Date: January 25, 2006 at 11:37:56 Pacific
Reply:

I see you have SP2 from this line
NoExecute=OptIn
and that you did not state above.
Here is some info about it--
About SP2, Windows Security Center, Data Execution Prevention:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxpsp2/wsc.mspx
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;883792
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/wscoverview.mspx

Not sure if that is related to your problem.
And not sure if editing the Boot.ini file to
NoExecute=OptOut
would work.

The Purpose of the Boot.ini File in Windows XP

HOW TO: Edit the Boot.ini File in Windows XP

Print the articles to use as reference.


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